The Bull Bear Trader discusses market events and news with an interest in understanding risk and return in both bull and bear markets. Discussion topics include trading and hedging strategies, derivatives, risk management, hedge funds, quantitative finance, the energy and commodity markets, and private equity, as well as an occasional investment opinion.

Wikinvest Wire

Investment bank fees from private equity firms have fallen from 22% in the first quarter one year ago, to only 9.1% in the first quarter of 2008. The WSJ is reporting that "Total fees paid by private-equity firms globally fell 79% to $1 billion in the first quarter, led by Apollo Management, which paid out $74 million." Even big players, such as the Blackstone Group and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, paid less than $5 million in fees in the first quarter, compared to $198 million and $208 million, respectively, in the first quarter of last year. "Crunch" may be an understatement.